Тексты для чтения Text 1 london

London is undoubtedly one of the greatest cities in the world. It’s got everything a visitor could possibly want: rich history, beautiful architecture, charming parks, incredible museums and amazing restaurants. Although there are other great cities that can boast similar attractions, London is truly unique in its multiculturalism. The main reason why London has become a 'melting pot' of nations is the long history of immigration to Britain. More recently, the British Empire and the Second World War have had a serious impact on the number of immi­grants in Britain. About 8,000 Caribbeans (e.g. Jamaicans) served as soldiers in Britain during the Second World War. After the war, many decided to stay. As they were citizens of the British Empire, they had the right to work and live in Britain. In the 1950s and 1960s, when Britain had finally recovered from the hardships of war and needed more workers, many Indians and Pakistanis came to live and work in Britain. A few years later, the first Indian restaurants were opened. Forty years on, it's hard to imag­ine British cuisine without Chicken Tikka Masala, the most famous Indian curry specially designed for British taste.

There are lots of other reasons why people come to live in Britain, such as seeking protec­tion from war, poverty or political persecution back home. So many people have chosen London to be their 'home from home' that today, an incredi­ble 300 languages can be heard in its streets.

There are areas in London that are mainly populated by people of a particular ethnic origin. For example, Brixton in South London is famous for its well-established West-Indian community, whereas Wood Green in North London is a large Turkish settlement. But almost every part of London is populated with a wide mixture of people from lots of different countries and cultures. And, of course there are also large numbers of Irish, Scottish and Welsh people liv­ing in London. However, unlike New York, where each community is tightly knit and doesn't mix with other communities, London is truly multicultur­al. Here's one example. If you're a Turk, you can wander round the Greek areas and markets without any worries. If you're an Anglo-Saxon (the original peoples of England) you can drop into a Jamaican bar without offending anyone. British people can be rightly proud of their multicultural achievements. In addition, coming to live in London from other countries doesn't mean that newcomers have to forget their own culture (as they are encouraged to do in the USA and France). Everywhere you go, you'll see how other cul­tures have been embraced by mighty London. Ethnic festivals, markets, centres and events are as much part of London as Big Ben and the Tower of London.

Of course, there are some problems. For example, although there are laws against racial discrimination, people from ethnic minorities are more likely to do unskilled jobs or be unem­ployed than the majority of the population. However, there are also many examples of peo­ple from ethnic minorities occupying the best and most prestigious jobs. Lots of Asians are doctors and lawyers. The Chinese communities are economically very active.

Answer the questions:

1. What features distinguish London from other cities?

2. How many languages are spoken by Londoners?

Choose the right answer to the question:

Why did London become a cosmopolitan city?

1. the long history of immigration to Britain; b) the life in London is better

c) the friendly way of life